Electrical relay



Oct. 5, 1943. J. N. REYNOLDS ELECTRICAL RELAY Filed Jan. 17, 1941 2 SheetS- -Sheet 1 INVENTOR haw ATTORNEY Qct. 5, 1943. .1. N. REYNOLDS ELECTRICAL RELAY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fiq/o,

Filed Jan. 17, 1941 Rm C M c mm 5 w M m w WM W4. l/ 1 1 i m w w m H p, v w w 7 9 fl H M w m 7 aw w\:i w WV W z W B) M? ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 5, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL RELAY John N. Reynolds, Princeton, N. J.

Application January 17, 1941, Serial No. 374,839 '15 Claims. (01. 200 1o4) This invention relates to relay devices which are adapted for making and breaking electrical circuits, and more especially circuits used in connection with telephone work. The subject matter of the present invention is in the nature of an improvement on the invention disclosed in my U. S. Patent No. 2,248,584, issued July 8, 1941. In said patent a relay is disclosed in which a plurality of movable contact springs are actuated by a rotatable actuating plate which in turn is actuated by the armature of a two pole magnet The movable contact springs cooperate with fixed contact springs which are supported in stationary positions to make or break circuits or to transfer circuits. The present application is a division of patent application Serial No. 289,534, filed in my name on August 11, 1939, now Patent No. 2,238,077, issued April 15, 1941.

It is a main object of the present invention to provide a relay of the type described in which the movable contact springs are operated together by means of a rotatable actuating plate supported by the armature of the electromagnet, the. armature being arranged to oscillate about a region on a stationary surface which is in substantial alignment with the axis of rotation of the rotatable actuating plate. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the electromagnet is so shaped and arranged that one of the legs thereof provides such a stationary surface providing an axis of rotation for the armature.

In pursuance of a further object of the invention, the surface of the armature which bears against the leg of the magnet is non-planar and in one embodiment of the invention is formed by two fiat faces disposed at an obtuse angle to each other. In another illustrated embodiment of the invention, the face of the armature which bears against the leg of the electromaget is convexly curved, so that the armature has a slight rolling motion along the face of the magnet leg.

A cognate object of the invention lies in the provision of means for preventing the displacement of the pivotal supporting region of the armature from its proper position of engagement with the leg of the magnet. Such means in one illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a projecting ridge formed integral with the armature, a suitable opening in the leg of the magnet being provided to receive such ridge. In another illustrated embodiment of the invention, the face of the armature is provided with a pair of spaced openings formed therein, a pair of pins being provided in the leg of the magnet which fit loosely into said spaced openings and retain the armature in position without interfering with its rolling action along the leg of the magnet. Associated with the latter form of the invenion, novel means is provided to limit the return movement of the armature, such means preferably comprising a pin which is carried by the armature and arranged to come into engagement with a leg of the electromagnet.

A still further object ofthe invention is to provide an armature serving to support the rotatable plate which actuates the movable contact springs, such plate being preferably formed of moldable plastic material and the armature being I molded therein at the time the plate is molded.

Further objects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description thereof proceeds. For a better understanding of the invention, however, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Fig. 1 is a front view of a multi-contact relay device embodying the invention showing also a portion of a supporting panel adapted to support a plurality of the relays;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the relay shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, showing the armature of the relay of Fig. 1 and a portion of the magnet which supports it;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, of an armature and the support of Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view from the left of Fig. 401' the armature support;

Fig. 6 is a front view of a relay device embodying a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a relay showing another modified form of the invention, the contact springs being omitted;

Fig. 8 is a front view of the relay shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a view of-the magnet of Fig. 7 upon development into a single plane; and

Fig. 10 is .a fragmentary view, partly in section, showing one set of the relay contact springs and portions of the base, back stop plate and contact spring actuating plate of the relay of Fig. 7.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the base of the relay is provided with parallel end portions 66 and arcuate shaped upper and lower end portions 61, the base being formed of moldable insulation material in which the contact springs I011 and I la are molded, and in which is also molded the end of the magnet 68 having the parallel disposed rectangular shaped legs 69 and 70. The energizing coil H is mounted on the magnet leg 10 and extends into an opening 72 provided in the front of the base 65. Also molded in base 65 are the contact terminals Zfia and 21a which are connected to the ends of coil H by the leads 25a and 25a. The relay is preferably attached to a main supporting panel 13 through the medium of the magnet 58, the panel being formed of metal which is provided with similar openings 14, through which pass the rear ends of the relay contact springs [6a, Ha as shown in Fig. 2. The magnetis secured in position on panel 13 by the screw E5, which passes into a threaded opening 16, formed in the end of magnet 68. By means of this arrangement, a substantial amount of any heat which may be generated in the coil II is transferred to the supporting panel 13 by con? duction, thereby maintaining the coil and relay at a safe operating temperature. In this em bodiment of the invention the contact springs I la are stationary and are seated in narrow peripheral notches ll, formed in a stationary supporting plate It, formed of insulation material and secured to the magnet legs 69 and 10. One

side of plate 18 is preferably cut away on a ctr-1 cular are as indicated at 19 in Fig. l. The movable relay contact springs llla are cut away on their inner edges as indicated at 20a for the purpose of readily clearing the plate 18.

For the purpose of actuating the movable con tact springs l Ela, a contact spring actuating plate 80 is provided with a series of'narrow slits 8t in its periphery, in which the outer ends of 'the contact springs ma are seated. Plate 80 is pref erably formed of molded insulation material,

H1. The fit of these pins in the tapered holes 85' is such as to afford a certain degree of support to the armature '82 on magnet leg 10 but at the same time to permit a rolling movement of the armature on its curved face 84. In order to secure the armaturein its proper operating position. it is provided with a notch or aperture ill 1n the opemng or closing of circuits not intendin which one end of a curved spring 88'presses lar edges 89 as indicated in Fig. 1. ArmatureBZ is provided with a pin 90 which engages the magnet leg Gil to limit the return motion of the armature. exten t'of motion of the armature and actuating plate'Bfl may be adjusted-to a desired amount.

By bending the pin '90 slightly, the

A number of relays similar to the one de' scribed may be mounted within a small space on the supporting panel 13, since the peripery of the stationary plate 18 of the next adjacent relay may be dis-posed close to and extend into the cut-out portion 19 of the relay shown'in Fig. l. The provision of this cut-out in each stationary plate 18 affords means whereby the relays may armature on the surface of magnet leg i0.

be spaced more closely together on the supporting panel.

In the operation of the relay described, the passage of an electrical current through coil H causes magnetic lines of force to pass through the magnet legs 69, i0 and armature 82, causing the toe piece 83 to be drawn over against the surface of leg 69. In this movement the face 84 of the armature has a rolling motion on the surface of magnet leg It with which it is in engagement, so that substantially no friction results from the motion of the armature. Since the armature is connected to contact spring actuating plate 89, this plate rotates and causes the ends of contact springs lea to rotate through a small angle and engage the stationary contact springs Ma. The armature is so positioned on rotatable plate 8.8 that the axis of rotation of the plate coincides with the center of rotation of the The stationary supporting plate 13 forms a backstop for the contact springs Na and prevents them from following the contact springs Mia and coming into engagement with the next adjacent set of contact springs which might result ed .to be operated, While the armature has been shownconnected to the front plate 89, it will be understood that it may be connected to the rear plate l8 if desired, in which case the movable contact springs [3a would be connected to the periphery of this plate, which would be provided with a large central opening to clear the magnet legs 69, Ill. "The stationary contact springs Ha would be connected to the station ary front plate 33 which could be mounted on the outer ends of magnet legs 69 and 1D. In this form of the invention the contact springs are arranged in two oppositely disposed groups, one group at the top of the relay and the other group at the bottom.

Instead of providing the magnet leg It with pins such as 86 for positioning the armature. this leg may be provided (see Figs. 4 and 5) with an elongated 'V-shaped aperture 9! adapted to receive a similar V-shaped projection 92 formed on armature 82" and which fits loosely therein, In this modification, the rear of the armature is provided with the two flat inclined faces 91a and Slb, the face 91a lying in contact with the surface of magnet leg Hi when the magnet is inergized as shown in Fig. 4. Upon passage of an electrical current through coil H, the toe 8.3 of the armature is drawn over against leg .69, the armature rotating about the rear edge 92' of projection 92 as a point of pivotal support until its face 96b lies adjacent to the surface of magnelt leg it. In this imodification also, the center of rotation 92 of the armature is preferably arranged to be in alignment with the axis of rotation of the contact spring actuating plate 89.

The modification shown in Fig. 6 is generally similar to that shown and described in connection with Figs. 1, 2 and 3 but is intended for the control of a smaller number of circuits, the sets of contact springs being arranged in a single group herein shown located at the bottom of'the relay. For this purpose the relay base 65a is made lower, the straight ends 6511 of the base extending up only tothe middle of the relay and being connected by the circular peripheral face .93. Also the rotatable contact spring actuating plate 89a and the stationary back stop plate 18a extend only a slight distance past the middle of'the relay, being terminated in the flat 2,330,920 faces 94 and 95 respectively. In this modification the notch Ill in the armature and spring 88 of Figs. 1 and 2 are omitted and the armature 82a is maintained in proper position against the pins 861; and with its front surface 84a in con tact with the surface of magnet leg 10a by meansof an adjustable screw 96 which engages a threaded bore 9'! in magnet leg 69a. Screw is so adjusted that it bears rather loosely against armature 82a so as not to interfere with its free movement under the action of the magnet. Screw 96 is preferably made of brass or other non-magnetic material so as not to conduct the magnetic flux from the central'portion of the armature to the magnet leg 69a and thereby possibly interfere with the proper operation of the relay. Passage of an electrical current through coil Ila. causes armature 82a to along thesurface of leg a and rotate the a, uating plate 80a. through a small angle, thereby causing the movable contact springs III?) to engage the fixed contact springs ill). I

The modification shown in f to 10 has the same general arrangement as that shown and described in connection with 6. the relay being supported on the panel I3 by a. securing screw I5 in the manner above described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2. In this ccnstruction the back stop plate 137) for the fixed cor.- tact springs I Ic is secured to magnet leg 702), the movable contact springs I00 being cut away, as indicated at 200, Fig. 10, so as to clear the stop plate 10?). The armature 822) extends forward ly of the movable contact spring actuating plate 80b and is preferably molded therein, the fixed contact springs IIc being cut away, as indicated at d, Fig. 10, so as to clear the plate 80?).

For the purpose of pivotally supporting the armature 82b and the plate 801), the end of magnet leg 591) is provided with a slot 98 adapted to receive one leg 99 of a generally U-shaped spring I00 which has its end bent, as indicated at IOIb, to enter a small bore I02, Fig. 9, provided at the rear end of the slot 88. The end of magnet leg 10b is provided with a V-shaped slot 9|, Fig. 9, into which extends a V-shaped projection 92, formed on the armature in the manner above described in connection with Figs. 4 and 5, the surface of the armature adjacent magnet leg 10?) being provided with the inclined faces BIG. and 9Ib. The other leg 99 of spring I00 has its end bent over at right angles, as indicated at I03 to freely enter a bore I04 provided in the left face of the armature, the point of engagement I 05 of the end portion I03 of the spring with the armature being closely adjacent to the pivotal supporting edge 92' of the armature. The construction described provides the desirable advantages that substantially no motion of the spring I00 occurs during the motion of the armature and the friction is reduced to a minimum.

In this construction, in addition to the fiat top face 94a, the side faces I06 of the contact spring actuating plate 8% may be formed straight and parallel, as shown in Fig. 8, curving out slightly at their lower ends, as shown. Also the center portion of plate 8% may be cut away, as shown, to provide a generally oval shaped opening I01 through which magnet leg 1% passes with an adequate amount of clearance. While the relay has been shown secured in a horizontal position on panel I3 with the body of armature 82b dis posed at the left of its pivotal supporting edge 92', it will be understood that it is also operative when mounted with the armature body disposed above or below its point of pivotal support. Passage of an electrical current through coilv Ila causes the armature 82b to rotate about its point of pivotal support 92 which is in alignment with the axis of rotation of the actuating plate b, causing this plate to rotate through a small angle and move the movable contact springs I00 into engagement with the fixed contact springs -I I0.

I have described what I believe to be the best embodiments of my invention. I do not wish, however, to be confined to the embodiments shown, but what I desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A relay device comprising in combination, an electromagnet provided with a pair of parallel spaced apart legs and an armature formed of paramagnetic material disposed between said legs and having a non-planar supporting face, a stationary surface, a plurality of fixed contact springs, a plurality of movable contact springs adapted for engagement with the fixed contact springs, a rotatable actuating plate connected to said armature, means connecting said actuating plate with the movable contact springs and means cooperating with the armature and arranged upon the passage of current through the coil of the electromagnet to cause the armature to rock about a region on said stationary surface which coincides substantially with the axis of rotation of said actuating plate and the end of the armature to come into engagement with the end of one of the said magnet legs whereby the armatureprovides a return path of low reluctance for the magnetic flux between the ends of said magnet legs.

2. A relay device in the combination as set forth in claim 1, in which the rotatable actuating plate is formed of moldable insulation material and the armature is molded in the said insulation material.

3. A relay device in the combination as set forth in claim 1, in which the stationary surface is formed by the face of a lee of the electromagnet.

4. A relay device in the combination as set forth in claim 1, in which a yielding means engages the armature to bias its supporting face into engagement with the stationary surface.

5. A relay device in the combination as set forth in claim 1, in which the face of the armature opposite its supporting face is provided with a recess and a spring has one of its ends seated in said recess and its other end in engagement with the electromagnet.

6. A relay device in the combination as set forth in claim 1, in which an elongated projecting ridge extends from the supporting face of the armature and a leg of the electromagnet is pro vided with a recess shaped to receive said projecting ridge.

'7. A relay device in the combination as set forth in claim 1, in which the supporting face of the armature is formed of two substantially flat surfaces arranged at an angle to each other, the region between said surfaces forming a point of pivotal support for the armature.

8. A relay device in the combination as set forth in claim 1, in which the supporting face of the armature is formed of two substantially flat surfaces arranged at an angle to each other, the region between said surfaces forming a point of pivotal support for the armature and one of said surfaces being arranged to come into engagement with the stationary surface to limit the return movement of the armature.

.9. A relay device in the combination as set forth in claim 1, in which the face of the armature opposite to its supporting face is provided with a bore which terminates closely adjacent to the supporting face and a spring having one of its ends in engagement with the inner end wall of the bore. 1

10. A relay device in the combination as set forth in claim 1, in which the electromagnet is provided with a pair of pole pieces, one of said pole pieces being provided with an aperture therein, and av U-shaped spring having one leg seated in said aperture and its other leg in engagement with said armature at a point thereof closely adjacent to said stationary surface.

11. A relay device in the combination as set forth in claim 1, in which an elongated notch is formed in said stationary surface and the supporting face of the armature is formed of two substantially flat surfaces arranged at an acute angle to each other and a projecting ridge on said armature intermediate the flat surfaces thereof, said ridge fitting loosely into said elongated notch.

12. A relay device in the combination as set forth in claim 1, in which the supporting face of the armature is convexly curved and arranged for rolling engagement with said stationary surface.

13. A relay device in the combination .as set forth in claim 1, in which at least two spaced apertures are provided in the supporting face of the armature and the electromagnet is provided with pins projecting and loosely fitting into said spaced apertures.

.14. A relay device in the combination as set forth in claim 1, in which the armature i provided with a projecting pin adapted to come into engagement with a leg of the electromagnet so as to limit the return movement of the armature.

15. A relay comprising U-shaped stationary magnet legs formed of para-magnetic material,

an energizing coil disposed on one of said legs, sets of contact springs and an armature formed of para-magnetic material and disposed for rotation between said magnet legs and arranged to operate said contact springs, said armature having a portion continuously in engagement with one of said magnet legs and being supported to rotate about a line which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the magnet legs and is also disposed in a plane passing through the centers of the said magnet legs, said line lying in a face of one of the magnet legs.

JOHN N. REYNOLDS. 

